A woman in Washington state called 911 after finding herself surrounded by over 100 wild raccoons.
According to AP News, on Wednesday, a woman from Poulsbo, Washington, called 911 and reported that her home was surrounded by about 50 to 100 wild raccoons.
For the past 35 years, she has fed wild raccoons. However, about six weeks ago, she noticed a sharp increase in their population, with raccoons appearing around her house day and night.
Video footage captured by the sheriff’s office shows the raccoons gathering in her backyard.
Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kevin McCarthy explained, “Somehow, the word got out in raccoon land, and they all showed up to her house expecting a meal.” McCarthy added, “She said those raccoons were becoming increasingly more aggressive, demanding food, that they would hound her day and night — scratching at the outside of her home, at the door. If she pulled up her car, they would surround the car, scratch at the car, surround her if she went from her front door to her car or went outside at all.”
Bridget Mire, spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, reported that the individual had recently stopped feeding the raccoons, leading to their dispersal now that food was no longer being provided.
According to Washington State wildlife authorities, feeding large carnivores like bears or cougars is prohibited. While current state laws do not make it illegal to feed raccoons, officials advise against it. Raccoons can transmit diseases to humans, and the food fed to them may attract other predators like coyotes or bears.
Meanwhile, the reason behind the sudden increase in the raccoon population remains unclear.
